I have evacuated 4 times due to wildfire. The most recent less than a week ago. Each time has been different, but the most recent has taught me more lessons than the others. So lets take a look:
1st: Middle school. We had just moved into a house that had been vacant for years. Defensible space was non-existent. A fire broke out right behind the house and I went to confront it with a garden hose. I learned very quickly how pointless that was. A fire in tall, dry grass is a sight to behold. It went from "damn!" to "run for your life!!" in about 30 seconds. The fire stopped just short of the house.
2nd: Knock on the door. A deputy knocked on my door around midnight and told me to grab my things and go. A fire had been sparked sometime after I had gone to bed and the wind pushed it toward where I was living. No prep and 5 minutes to get out and drive away with the clothes on my back.
3rd: Stay out. Wildfire broke out during the day while at work. Road-block wouldn't let me anywhere near my home.
4th: Most recent. Had just left my house with wife and kids to do some shopping. Shortly before that, I heard a bunch of thunder as is common this time of year. We live on a hill, and as we drove down, we noticed smoke pouring off the hillside about two miles away. My parents live about two miles away from me, and they are out of town. I swing the car toward their house as they have pets and renters who are now in harms way. A police roadblock is bypassed on a dirt road and we hit their driveway running. When we arrive the fire is moving downhill toward the homes - that isn't normal. The fire is halfway up the hill when we arrive. By the time we leave 90 seconds later, the fire has moved an additional 1/2 mile downhill into the neighborhood. We grab the dogs and haul ass out of there, headed home. We watch out the car window as the fire moves with us. It makes a quick turn east as we near home, buying us some time to escape.
Upon reaching home, I instruct the wife and kids to grab our dogs and whatever they deem necessary for evacuation. "You have 5 minutes" I say. Dogs, pictures and a fireproof box with documents are thrown in the truck. We leave soon after - with a 10' wall of fire marching toward our home. It was about this time the rain started and changed what could have been a horrible situation into an inconvenience. Several hours later, we returned to our home unscathed. The fire came within 1/2 mile, but no harm was done. My house is stucco, with a cement tile roof and has in interior sprinkler system. It would be really hard to burn. On top of that I have solid insurance and a good deal of defensible space. Houses can be replaced. It is a reality we accept of living where we do.
Lessons learned:
I did not have a trauma kit in my truck. Bumps and bruises kit, yes - but not a trauma kit. I fixed that.
5 dogs are HARD to corral and load at a moments notice!!
From first sign to evacuation of two houses was less than 30 minutes. Camper shell on my truck helped, but a ramp would be nice.
Bug out bag wasn't ready. It got left behind. I need to fix that.
While my truck is ideal as an evac vehicle, there was no long-gun storage. I need to fix that.
I didn't have a supply of dog food in ready to go fashion. I need to fix that.
The amount of "spectators" was surreal. We are evacuating from a wall of flame - and the streets are packed with people who have parked their cars to take pictures. This is new.
Anyway - I needed to put this in writing so I can remind myself of what needs to be done.